Class of 2014

Below are their responses to the question: "People might be surprised to know..."

“I considered a vocation to the priesthood at age 15, but decided on College and a Business Career. The feeling of priesthood never left my heart and some 30 years after first hearing the call I left my career and entered the Seminary.”

Fr. Jeffrey ArcherBoston

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"I am an eagle scout who first visited a seminary in the fourth grade."

Fr. Christopher BarkhausenPaterson

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"I was a gang member before encountering Jesus."

Fr. David DufresneArlington

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"I was actively involved in Greek Life during my four years at the University of Connecticut, serving as president of my college fraternity."

Fr. Jonathan FicaraNorwich

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"I am a rocket scientist."

Fr. Dan FolwacznyChicago

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"Before I entered the seminary, I studied classical singing (opera) at the undergraduate and graduate levels in order to become an opera singer, and then I switched to studying systematic theology at the graduate and post-graduate levels. I am also a convert to the Catholic faith, and my grandfather was a Jewish Rabbi in the conservative branch of Judaism."

Fr. William GoldinOrange

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"I was the president of my college fraternity and I attended daily mass every day of my presidency year."

Fr. Richard Goodin, OFMOrder of Friars Minor, St. John the Baptist Province

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"I am an adult convert to Catholicism having been unchurched until the RCIA program at Virginia Tech's Newman Community."

Fr. Robert Greer, OPOrder of Preachers, Province of St. Albert the Great

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"When I was in the second year of college, friends invited me to visit a monastery for the first time in my life. I did not know about religious life at all. The visit was so powerful that it changed my life since then."

Fr. Khoa HoangThe Order of Carmelites

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"I spent 10 years in the US Navy and have been to 132 cities in 18 different countries."

Fr. Keith KenneyPhoenix

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"I have an identical twin brother who will also be ordained a priest with me for the Diocese of Lansing." –Fr. Todd

Fr. Todd and Fr. Gary KoenigsknechtLansing

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"I considered a vocation to the Franciscans. I've run several marathons including Boston & Marine Corps, still run almost daily, and continue to run with former high school & college teammates whenever I get the opportunity."

Fr. Ryan LernerHartford

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"I have an older brother who is a priest for the same Archdiocese!"

Fr. David MarcotteIndianapolis

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"I was a war correspondent, had a bit acting part in Schindler's List, lived abroad for about dozen years (Poland, Germany, Belgium), had a couple encounters with Pope St. John Paul II and would occasionally tell people over a span of several decades that one day I would be a priest."

Fr. Gregory PiattDetroit

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"I would not have been able to be ordained without the policy change "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" going into effect a few months prior to my diaconate ordination. I am what some call a DREAMer and I was given a chance to discern by supportive bishops and vocation directors who trusted that God would provide a way to bring me to ordination if it was His will. I am thankful for their faith in me and in God."

Fr. Reybert PinedaAtlanta

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"I was a professional tap dancer before becoming a priest."

Fr. David RiderNew York

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"I wrote software for a military satellite communications system and missile defense radar before I entered the Jesuits, but enjoyed the work I did as a volunteer at my parish more than writing code. Then as a Jesuit I helped to found a website (thejesuitpost.org) and ended up writing code again, but this time for the sake of the Kingdom."

Fr. Samuel SawyerSociety of Jesus

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"Since the age of 5 I felt called to serve God as a priest. My idea of the priesthood has changed so much in the past 15 years. All I can say is that the commitment to serve Christ needs to be renewed every day."

Fr. Leonel Varela, OCDDiscalced Carmelites, Western Province

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"I played a year of college football and spent a decade as a competitive powerlifter. In that time I won a national title in my age and weight group as well as two silver medals, and set several state records and one American Record."

Fr. Adam WilczakKansas City (Kansas)

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"I am a part of band, called YOLO. We are a group of seminarians who go around taking popular secular music and putting it within a religious context. We say YOLO (You only live once) because many teens and young adults use that as a reason to do whatever they want, even if it is contrary to what the Church encourages. However, we say you only live once, so go out and preach the Gospel!"

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